Ladies in the Medals at Lanarkshire Relays

Silver medals for Karen (Sandy is her photo stand-in), Emma and Kay

Calderglen's strength in depth in the ladies team was confirmed today as we swapped the A team members from last week and flew around the 3 x 4km laps to win the silver in the Lanarkshire AAA Road Relay Championship in Drumpellier Park, Coatbridge. Karen Allen stormed around the first leg in 16:18 in third place. Karen is obviously very comfortable on the roads. After a strong run last week in Hamilton, Kay Conneff was on the second leg and moved the team up to second place with a well paced leg timed at 16:57. The field was well spread out by the time Emma Craig started the last leg and as a relative newcomer, perhaps found the pace judgement difficult on such a lonely leg. However, Emma maintained second in 16:44, closing the gap on the winners Motherwell AC. Well done to the team for maintaining the Calderglen tradition of regularly medalling in this event.

Neil and Mark power away from the start

Our second ladies team was led off by Kirsty Wilson who found the company on the busy first leg to her liking, recording an excellent time of 16:30, second fastest of the Calderglen ladies. Frances Ferguson has competed here several times before and knows precisely how to pace it. Frances was the only one I heard complaining about the hills not being big enough but still recorded a great time of 17:13, keeping the team well up and putting some pressure on Sandy Hayden on the last leg. Sandy said afterwards that she struggled a bit on the hills but even the slightest incline is difficult when running flat out over 4km. Sandy finished in 20:13. Lorraine Buchanan was the solo runner in our third team and pulled a gap on several other teams despite having a cold. Lorraine finished in 20:33. Great performances from all the ladies and thanks to Karen and Kirsty for adjusting their schedules to fit the race in and hopefully not putting themselves under too much pressure.

Andy Buchanan sprints to the line

We had two complete men's teams today and with no veteran category in this race, the teams were based entirely on the finishing times at Hamilton Racecourse last weekend. Mark Saez and Neil Green were given first legs. Neil had a recurring back pain through the week and so was doubtful right up until the morning of the race. It felt safest to put him in the second team though just in case he had to hobble to the finish line. Neil doesn't do hobbling though and led Mark for much of the first leg before the hard breathing Mark eventually squeezed past Neil in the final half mile. Mark finished in 14:18 with Neil only seconds behind in 14:21, a Shettleston Harrier splitting them. I set off on leg 2 with Jim Holmes right behind. The Shettleston runner blasted past me right away but it didn't look like he was going to last and by 400m I had caught and passed him. I passed two more on the way back and handed over in about 5th position in 14:07. On the way back, I saw that Jim had also passed the Shettleston runner and kept it going strongly to the line in 16:39. Martin Duthie and Richard Lawton were on the third legs. Martin had a strong run and we forget that with his "flowing, youthful locks" he is now 56 and most likely the fastest M55 out there today. Martin finished in 14:47, holding the team's position. Richard got a real confidence boost from this run, with no physical problems and a solid 17:44. Andy Buchanan and Russell Couper were on the fourth legs. Andy hasn't raced here before and with the field well spread out, pace judgement was essential. After a very fast start, Andy settled back, passing one team but only to find that Shettleston had one of their top runners, Paul Sorrie, on the last leg, who caught Andy on the way back. In the final 100m, Andy over-reacted to our supporting shouts and sprinted to the line faster than anyone else, finishing in 14:19 and keeping the team in 6th position. Russell just needed a hard run today and this he delivered with a fine 20:17.

Russell on the initial climb

Many Harriers commented that this course made them feel as though they were flying and indeed they were as the pace is much higher on the roads than it is on soft cross country courses. Unfortunately, it looks like it might be the only road relay in the Grand Prix this year as a Shettleston Harrier unofficially told me that the Scally probably would not take place this year. So we are back to the mud next week at Cumbernauld. Well done to all for supporting the club again this weekend.
Alan

(Note all times to be confirmed from official results when available before the Grand Prix is updated as there are a few close ones!).